Landon Donovan extends U.S. lead to 2-0 over Mexico

Fans cheer during Tuesday's World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Mexico.

Fans cheer during Tuesday's World Cup qualifying match between the United States and Mexico. (Jamie Sabau / Getty Images)

Kevin Baxter

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Landon Donovan's 58th goal for the U.S. national team in the 78th minute doubled the Americans' lead over Mexico to 2-0 and moved the team a big step closer to next summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Eddie Johnson's goal early in the second half, off a perfect service from Donovan, accounted for the first U.S. goal.

A victory over Mexico, combined with a win or draw by Honduras in its late game with Panama, would lock up a World Cup invitation for the Americans. But a win alone would leave Panama with only a remote mathematical chance of denying the U.S. one of CONCACAF's three guaranteed slots in Brazil in June.